Sweeteners

In our day today life, we use a wide variety of sweeteners. Chocolates, breads, desserts… all contain a large amount of sweeteners. In Ayurveda too, the topic is discussed and studied well. Let us take a glimpse.

Sugarcane Juice:- Sugarcane juice many properties. It acts like a laxative. Even though it is hard to digest, it nourishes the body and helps in making the body stout. The juice is diuretic and therefore helps in curing urinary problems. Along with that, it is an aphrodisiac. But spoiled sugarcane juice can cause burning sensation. Different varieties of sugarcane juice are mentioned.

Half Cooked Molasses:- This is said to be heavy and hard to digest. But it is diuretic.

Jaggery:- If purified well, the jaggery is laxative and acts as a diuretic. If not purified well, it can cause worm infestation.

Other varieties like brown sugar, sugar candy and refined sugar are also mentioned in Ayurveda. It says that they all have aphrodisiac property.

The best variety of sweetener is refined sugar and least variety is the half cooked molasses.

Honey:- Honey have a lot of medicinal properties. It is good for eye sight. It alleviates thirst. Along with that it helps to cure hiccup, cough diarrhoea. But it should not be heated. For treatment purposes it can be added with warm medicines.